Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 85%

Which of the following options correctly combines two clauses?

Rationale

After she took her final exam, Kamryn put her chemistry books away for the summer, and she didn't open them again until September.

This option correctly combines two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, ensuring proper grammatical structure and clarity in the sentence.

A (After she took her final exam, Kamryn put her chemistry books away for the summer, and she didn't open them again until September.) CORRECT

This choice effectively uses a coordinating conjunction ("and") to link two independent clauses, maintaining a clear chronological sequence and ensuring grammatical correctness.

B (Kamryn didn't open them again until September after she took her final exam, she put her chemistry books away for the summer.) YOUR ANSWER

This option incorrectly combines two independent clauses with a comma, resulting in a run-on sentence. Proper punctuation, such as a semicolon or conjunction, is needed to join these clauses correctly.

C (After her final exam, Kamryn put her chemistry books away for the summer because she didn't open them again until September.) YOUR ANSWER

While this option is grammatically correct, it implies a causal relationship between putting the books away and not opening them, which is not the intended meaning. The original structure focuses on chronological order rather than causation.

D (Kamryn put her chemistry books away for the summer after she took her final exam because she didn't open them again until September.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice also presents a causal relationship and is grammatically correct but changes the emphasis of the original sentence. The use of "because" suggests that the decision to put the books away was influenced by the fact that she wouldn't use them again, which alters the intended meaning.

Conclusion

The successful combination of clauses in option A preserves the intended chronological flow and clarity of thought. The other options either misapply punctuation, introduce unintended causal relationships, or alter the meaning, demonstrating the importance of proper clause combination in conveying clear and accurate information.

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